The 2024-25 NBA season will feature a compelling chase for the championship, as a combination of old favorites and new contenders will create nearly endless excitement. Here, we look at the NBA championship odds for the season and look at the favorites and some dark horse candidates to win the NBA Finals.
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Current 2024-2025 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | NBA Championship Odds |
| Boston Celtics | +210 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +225 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +800 |
| New York Knicks | +1100 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1400 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1400 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +3000 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +3000 |
| LA Clippers | +3500 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +4000 |
| Golden State Warriors | +4000 |
| Houston Rockets | +5500 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +5500 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +10000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +10000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +12500 |
| Orlando Magic | +15000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +20000 |
| Miami Heat | +30000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +40000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +75000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +100000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +100000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +100000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +100000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +100000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +100000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +100000 |
| Utah Jazz | +100000 |
| Washington Wizards | +100000 |
NBA Championship Favorites
Boston Celtics
The favorite to win the NBA Finals in the 2024-25 season is the Boston Celtics. Boston was clearly the best team in the NBA during the 2023-24 season, cruising to the NBA championship. Unless something drastic happens between then and the next postseason, there is no reason to believe that the Celtics will not be in the championship picture once again.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder arrived as championship contenders, finishing the regular season atop the Western Conference. While the Thunder lost in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, the nucleus for sustained success is already in place for this group. Trading for Alex Caruso and signing Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason is already proof positive that the Thunder are going to be aggressive in chasing a title this year. So far, they have been the best team in the West once again.
New York Knicks
Injuries were an issue for the New York Knicks in the last postseason last year. The Knicks were in a position to make the Eastern Conference Finals before losing several key players to injuries against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. If they can stay healthy, they could conceivably compete with the Celtics for the Eastern Conference playoffs, but that is no guarantee under Tom Thibodeau, as trades for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges have generated a ton of interest in the Knicks to win the title.
Other NBA Championship Contenders
Los Angeles Lakers
The Dallas Mavericks won the Western Conference last season, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving having a very successful postseason together. This season, Doncic has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are now considered title contenders out of the Western Conference. Interior defense will be a concern for Los Angeles, but the scoring of LeBron James and Doncic will make them a very intriguing team as the season wears on.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets were not able to repeat as NBA champions last season, falling in the second round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves. With that said, they still have a three-time NBA MVP in Nikola Jokic to lead them and plenty of talent around him. Denver should be in the championship chase again this year in a loaded Western Conference.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have started the 2024-25 NBA season on fire. They have the best record in the Eastern Conference to this point in the season and they do not appear to be slowing down at this point. If Cleveland can sustain their current level of play, they could end up challenging the Knicks and Celtics for the Eastern Conference title and win themselves their first championship since LeBron James’ departure.
2024-25 NBA Finals Prediction
For now, we will take the Boston Celtics to become NBA champions once again. Boston is unlikely to have such an easy road to the Finals this coming postseason. But they have a ton of talent and enough role players to do great things again in the 2024-25 season. Look for Boston to finish atop the East and to give the rest of the league trouble all year long.
